Hunter Downes
Downes (7) fires a pass during a Coupeville Middle School game. (Shelli Trumbull photo)
Hunter Downes is planning to slow down his mind to speed up his game.
When he takes the football field during his freshman year at Coupeville High School this fall, Downes, who played quarterback, outside linebacker and safety in middle school, will concentrate on staying in focus.
“I just want to become a fluent quarterback and not to have my mind rushing at a million miles an hour,” he said.
Name a sport and Downes has played it, from basketball and track to soccer, but the gridiron has a special call to him.
“This will be my third season; I started just because my love of football,” Downes said. “I enjoy playing because when it’s game time and I’m in the game it just takes me to a different place.”
He picks his throwing and running skills as his strong points, and would “like to just strengthen both of them up before game time.”
Easy-going on and off the field (“I really just spend my time doing whatever sounds interesting at the time”), Downes spreads the credit around when it comes to naming people who have influenced him.
“My dad and his best friend have probably the best impact on my football career,” he said. “I would also give a shout-out to (CMS teammate) Cameron Toomey-Stout, who has always been there on and off the field.”
Coupeville Sports 